Power outages affect half of Rehoboth during Sandy

More than half the town was without power by Monday evening, stirring memories of Hurricane Irene.

According to National Grid, 2,675 out of 4,933 customers in Rehoboth were without electricity.

By Christopher Nichols

The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

By Christopher Nichols

Posted Oct. 29, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 29, 2012 at 12:07 PM

By Christopher Nichols

Posted Oct. 29, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 29, 2012 at 12:07 PM

REHOBOTH

» Social News

More than half the town was without power by Monday evening, stirring memories of Hurricane Irene.

According to National Grid, 2,675 out of 4,933 customers in Rehoboth were without electricity.

With the aftermath of Hurricane Irene — when most of the town was left without power for nearly a week — still on their minds, the Rehoboth Emergency Management Agency and Rehoboth Rescue had been preparing for Hurricane Sandy since Wednesday.

Bill Maiorano, Director of REMA, said his agency mobilized equipment and personnel, met with the town’s public safety departments on two occasions and haas been holding conference calls with the Massachusetts EMA twice a day.

He said the agency also filled 450 sandbags, which are available for residents at the Highway Garage, and stockpiled water and some food rations at the town’s Public Safety Building.

“My job is really to make sure everybody’s prepared,” Maiorano said.

Standing in the agency’s mobile command center parked at the Public Safety Building, Maiorano and other members of REMA and Rehoboth Rescue said the biggest danger for residents, they felt, was falling trees and power outages.

“I think the wind is going to be more critical than the rain,” said Bob Fagundes, Deputy Director of REMA. “The storm is moving a little quicker than we expected.”

“When we lose power, we lose everything — our water supplies,” said Maiorano, noting that nearly the entire town uses well waters.

By 3 p.m., many residents in town had already lost power, and crews were doing what they could to restore electricity.

Maiorano noted, however, that when wind gusts are too high, emergency crews can’t work on restoring electricity and must wait until winds subside.

In order to help prevent of repeat of the lengthy power outages during Irene, Fagundes said that National Grid has established a liaison where town officials can directly contact the company.

“I hope (Irene) taught National Grid because we were out of power for a week. That’s nothing we can control,” Fagundes said.

The Public Safety Building and the town’s two other fire stations are fully manned, Maiorano said. He also said that if power outages leave residents needing water, the town will use all three fire stations — the Public Safety Building and the stations on Tremont Street and Pleasant Street — for water distribution.

Berkley

In Berkley, the town’s public safety and emergency response personnel held a meeting on Friday and coordinated with Berkley Middle School to use the school as an emergency shelter, if needed.

As of about 3:30 p.m., the school has not needed to be opened as a shelter, according to Police Chief Scott Labonte, adding that any resident that needs shelter should contact the police department at 508-822-7040.

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Labonte also said that his department has doubled the amount of on-duty dispatchers and officers for the storm. As of about 3:30 p.m., the department has responded to about a dozen reports of trees in the roadway.

The town has also seen two power outages as of about 3:30 p.m., although in both instances the power has been restored, according to Labonte.

Labonte also said that the department is monitoring the water levels of the Taunton River, and, if the levels become too high, an evacuation could be ordered through a reverse 9-1-1 call.

“In the event that it has to be executed, we’re prepared to do it,” Labonte said.

Dighton

In Dighton, Pleasant Street and Water Street — which run along the Taunton River — were closed for most of Monday.

Police Chief Robert MacDonald said police and fire personnel are monitoring the water levels of the Taunton River along these streets and near Muddy Brook Cove.

“It’s okay right now,” MacDonald said just before 4 p.m., although he warned that as high tide approaches tonight, the water levels may reach the road.

MacDonald also said that the department has responded to about three downed trees and a couple of snapped utility poles. Workers from National Grid continue to try to repair the poles, MacDonald said just before 4 p.m.

The department has increased the number of patrols in preparation of the storm.